Pot-puffing pool prince Michael Phelps surfaced yesterday to admit that he made a “mistake” – and that it “definitely wasn’t easy” to explain it all to his mother, a middle-school principal.

“It’s something I am going to have to live with, and something I’ll have to grow from,” the 14-time Olympic gold-medalist said in his first public comments since photos surfaced of him taking a hit from a bong at a college party.

“Seeing my mom reminded me of how it was the day after I got my DUI, and I swore to myself I’d never do that again,” said Phelps, who was arrested in 2004 at age 19 for driving under the influence and received 18 months probation.

He said he’s been spending the last few days with his mother and his sisters.

“We’ve been talking a lot,” said Phelps, 23. “I’ve been able to get back to my family. It’s part of my life I need back.”